Italian GP: A lap with Alex Wurz

"There is something very special about Monza. The setting, the noise of
the Tifosi, the old banking crumbling in the background, the name - I
like it all! It's the only super-fast track on the calendar and
everything happens very quickly for the...

"There is something very special about Monza. The setting, the noise of
the Tifosi, the old banking crumbling in the background, the name - I
like it all! It's the only super-fast track on the calendar and
everything happens very quickly for the drivers. It takes a few laps to
get used to it, even if you've been racing all year.

"In terms of driving style, Monza is an incredibly interesting mixture.
On the one hand you have to be very harsh with your car by being
super-aggressive over the kerbs, but you also have to treat it with
respect by being very careful with the throttle because of the low
downforce.

"Turn 1 is all about braking. You don't want to out-brake yourself,
which can easily happen because the approach is so fast - 340kph
(211mph) - and you then have to use the kerbs a lot. You must make sure
that you make a clean exit because the long straight around Curva Grande
follows before you're back on the brakes from high speed for the second
chicane. The braking area is bumpy and you then have to jump over the
kerbs very aggressively, which is fun.

"You're in fourth gear for the two Lesmos, which are both very slippery.
The first one is slightly banked in your favour, so you have mid-corner
understeer followed by exit oversteer. It's then very important to have
a good rhythm through the second Lesmo because it's very easy to
overdrive - and underdrive - the car and you need a good exit.

"Next up is Ascari, which is one of the best corners in Formula One.
Braking is difficult because it's bumpy and once you've turned in, you
jump over the inside kerb. You then get straight back on the power and
you should aim to do the next right and left-handers just flat. If they
are easy-flat, you have too much understeer or too much downforce, and
if you can't do it flat you lose too much time by lifting off.

"You then brake very late into the final corner, Parabolica. You hit the
brakes at about 60 metres and change down from seventh to fourth. The
car is always very nervous on the entry and you have to get back on the
power before the apex, at which point you don't know where you will hit
the white line at the exit. It's a ballsy situation. "